1. The Gift-of-Life and Family Authority: A Family-Based Consent Approach to Organ Donation and Procurement in China.
- Author
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Wang, Jue
- Subjects
ORGAN donation ,CULTURAL values ,ETHICAL problems ,AUTHORITY ,FAMILIES ,RESEARCH ,ETHICS ,ALTRUISM ,MOTIVATION (Psychology) ,RESEARCH methodology ,EVALUATION research ,MEDICAL cooperation ,INFORMED consent (Medical law) ,COMPARATIVE studies ,RELIGION ,TRANSPLANTATION of organs, tissues, etc. - Abstract
China is developing an ethical and sustainable organ donation and procurement system based on voluntary citizen donation. The gift-of-life metaphor has begun to dominate public discussion and education about organ donation. However, ethical and legal problems remain concerning this "gift-of-life" discourse: In what sense are donated organs a "gift-of-life"? What constitutes the ultimate worth of such a gift? On whose authority should organs as a "gift-of-life" be donated? There are no universal answers to these questions; instead, responses must be compatible with local cultural values. This paper argues that from a Confucian point of view, organs should be viewed as a gift from the donor's family, and that final dispositional authority should also rest with the donor's family. The worth of such a "gift" rests on the virtue of ren, the origin of which is family love. Ultimately, I will argue that a family-based consent model for deceased organ donation is not merely justified, but morally required in the Chinese cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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